How Kevin Harris improved his draft stock through NFL combine, South Carolina Pro Day
This is the second story in a series as The State chronicles Kevin Harris’ journey leading up to the NFL Draft on April 28-30
Kevin Harris glances to his right toward a South Carolina media relations representative, cracking an ear-to-ear grin.
“I’ve gotten better at this, huh?” he chides.
“You’ve come a long way,” the USC official retorts through a smile.
Harris is standing on the field at the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice facility following his Pro Day workout. Almost a dozen reporters and half as many television cameras stand before the usually mild-mannered and reserved running back.
In news conference settings throughout his career Harris was largely short and to the point. But as he has moved through the NFL Draft process, first at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and last week at USC, he has flashed more of the layers that have professional scouts impressed.
“Really, you have to perform under pressure,” Harris told The State at the combine. “I feel like I’m doubted a lot. When I’m doubted a lot, (I’m good to go).”
Harris has been a steady riser on draft boards in recent weeks. He capped the NFL combine finishing second-best of 32 running backs who participated in the vertical jump with a 38.5-inch mark. His 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump was also third out of 30 rushers that took part in Indianapolis.
The Georgia native told The State last month he’d had discussions with roughly 25 NFL teams during the combine. Harris’ camp has also believed interviews with pro scouts, coaches and general managers have gone as well as they could have.
Those conversations have become increasingly positive as the draft inches nearer. Harris flashed his perhaps underrated receiving ability at South Carolina’s Pro Day, catching every ball that was thrown his way during on-field work. Combine that with what he showed at the NFL combine, and there’s plenty to like.
The only real question — if you can even call it that — is Harris hasn’t put a 40-yard dash time on film of yet. He was supposed to run at the combine, but a strained hamstring leading up to the event forced him to sit out. Harris again attempted the 40-yard dash at Pro Day, but suffered a low grade hamstring strain when he puled up 30 yards into his sprint, a source with knowledge of the situation told The State. He may still run at the Carolina Panthers’ local pro day next month, but that remains to be seen.
Sprint aside, the understanding Harris and those working with him through the draft process have received is that he should be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick. That would put him somewhere between the third and fifth rounds.
“Early on he wasn’t the main guy, but he persevered through that and just came through running the pill (in 2020),” USC running backs coach Montario Hardesty said of Harris last year. “He’s a big, stocky, sturdier guy, but he runs the ball hard. He has explosive plays.”
Harris’ 2020 film — a year in which he finished as the Southeastern Conference’s leading rusher during the regular season — has helped his cause in recent months. So too has the video from the final few games of his South Carolina career.
There was some trepidation surrounding Harris entering the draft process due to the back injury that limited him throughout the 2021 campaign. His doctor, Harris said, described the issue as a sack of fluid on a nerve near his spine that needed removing.
The surgery forced Harris to miss fall camp. He didn’t receive a full-contact carry until his first touch of the East Carolina game on Sept. 11. But Harris returned closer to that 2020 form over the course of the year. His 128 yards on 16 carries against Florida helped pace the South Carolina offense. He later exploded for 182 yards and a score in USC’s win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
It’s in those games that scouts saw the initial burst they so often cite with running backs during the pre-draft evaluations. Harris ranks among the best in his class in short area burst — functionally a measurement of how quickly and powerfully he can hit a hole after receiving a handoff, reception, etc. His broad and vertical jump tests in Indianapolis only backed up the explosiveness scouts saw on film.
“I feel like my 2020 self again,” Harris said at the combine. “I feel like I’m back.”
As last week’s session wrapped up, Harris walked toward the sidelines to greet his family, who came up from Georgia to watch him work out. He passes off the Chick-fil-A sandwich he was given for lunch. After all, he’s trying to keep up the shape he’s in.
Harris smiles as his family greets him. His 40-yard dash was a blip on the morning. But with an impressive showing in on-field work he’s worked himself into a position to be drafted in the middle rounds of next month’s NFL Draft.
Assuming all goes well, Harris will have plenty more to smile about come April 28-30.
